IgG IEF

The Helena Biosciences SAS IgG IEF kit is intended for the identification of IgG-specific oligoclonal banding in serum and cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) by agarose gel isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. This technique is considered to be the “Gold Standard”1 method for the determination of intrathecal IgG synthesis in the clinical diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and offers advantages over other methods such as IgG quotient, blood-CSF barrier function, direct staining and in-gel fixation methods. Many studies have shown that direct silver staining techniques exhibit reduced sensitivity and specificity to IgG.

Gold Standard method

Isoelectric Focusing and IgG immunodetection, the most sensitive paraclinical method for use in conjunction with MRI2

Up to 10 paired serum CSF samples per gel

No pre-concentration of samples required

Simple procedure, CE marked

The most sensitive procedure for humoral immune responses / oligoclonal band in multiple sclerosis detection1

Kappa and Lambda antibodies available for easier interpretation of difficult samples

IgG IEF Control available

Can be used on multiple SAS platforms

All required components provided in ready-to-use format

Having dealt with Helena for 20 years now, I am obviously convinced of their excellence. The analysis of spinal fluid has been a Cinderella area due to a combination of smaller numbers of samples yet higher levels of sophistication required to detect oligoclonal IgG patterns. Helena have maintained the highest levels of quality control. This culminated in the recognition by the US Food and Drugs Administration of their kit for spinal fluid analysis. Thus the technique was further adopted by an International group of experts on the laboratory diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. It remains the “gold standard” in this field. Professor E J Thompson PhD MD DSc FRCPath FRCP,The National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery

Available gel sizes

SAS-MX IEF

SAS IgG IEF Kit

REF:

102200

Tests per gel:

5

Gels per kit:

10

Compatibility:

SAS-MX IEF chamber, SAS-1+, SAS-3

SAS-MX IEF

SAS IgG IEF Plus Kit

REF:

104200

Tests per gel:

10

Gels per kit:

10

Compatibility:

SAS-MX IEF chamber, SAS-1+, SAS-3

Oligoclonal bands and Isoelectric Focusing

Oligoclocal banding analysis is used in combination with MRI scans to confirm Multiple Sclerosis when the situation is still clinically uncertain. The presence of oligoclonal bands in cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) is indicative of intrathecal IgG production. This indicates an immune response to the central nervous system which is characteristic of Multiple Sclerosis.

The Helena Biosciences oligoclonal banding assay uses the Isoelectric Focusing technique (IEF). CSF-derived proteins are separated in the gel via a pH gradient which causes charged proteins to move up to the point at which their net electrical charge is neutral — known as the proteins’ Isoelectric Point (pI).